Brian Carrillo : Home Town: Santa Ynez Valley

Business Owner, Seismic Expansion Joint Consultant, Amateur Photojournalist, Writer and Humorist

Brian Carrillo is a seasoned professional with over 40 years of experience in the construction industry, specializing in sales and consulting while demonstrating a deep commitment to community engagement. He currently serves as a Community Outreach Volunteer with the Santa Ynez Citizens Council (SYVCC), is a business owner, and is a member of Rotary Club of Solvang, the Solvang Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce, showcasing his dedication to service and connection.

His career is a unique blend of hands-on construction expertise and innovative community-driven projects, allowing him to engage meaningfully with the world around him while focusing on commercial buildings and diverse markets. Brian is passionate about preserving the character of his community and fostering connections among its residents.

Brian’s professional journey began at a small thrift store in Tucson when he and his mother moved there when he was 10 years old. Before that, he lived in the vibrant Hills of Echo Park, surrounded by rock stars and bohemians just north of Downtown Los Angeles.

After a brief three years in Tucson, he returned to Los Angeles to spend his teenage years with his father, stepmother, and stepsisters in Bellflower. At 15, he boldly persuaded the business owner to let him deliver pizzas without a driver’s license and borrowed his older brother’s identity to secure a position at a Sears store in Cerritos where the Minium age was 18.

He remained in the retail and merchandising fields, including working in advertising and aligning with numerous big-box retail chains for many years, before discovering the fascinating world of building materials as a product specialist and independent sales representative for various manufacturing companies across the United States.

In Orange County, after graduating magna cum laude from the University of San Francisco with a degree in Organizational Development, Brian co-founded a construction sales company while raising his young family in Fullerton and Anaheim Hills. Since 1984, he has proudly dedicated himself to the commercial construction industry, founding multiple sales agencies and providing essential insights and technical expertise in Seismic Expansion Joints. His current firm, Joint-Tek, alongside Encore Building Products, serves the architectural and specialty building markets across California and Nevada.

A pivotal moment in Brian’s life came just 12 months ago when he learned he had cancer while standing in line at a Starbucks in Buellton (Don’t Frett – Brian is 7 Months and Counting Cancer Free – Yay!). This life-changing experience prompted him to relocate to a place he loved. Having traveled to the Santa Ynez Valley for years with his significant other and dog, Barley, he fell in love with the people and the breathtaking landscape. Now, he is committed to contributing positively to his new community while pursuing his passions, including mountain biking, writing, photography, and visiting wineries.

Brian has penned a treasure trove of short stories and essays on life, living, and the fine art of goofing off (yes, you can find them on this website—don’t worry, they’re not hidden behind a paywall). When he’s not busy crafting literary masterpieces, he’s strumming his old-school country guitar like a fool who thinks he’s the next Johnny Cash—complete with questionable dance moves.

In addition to his literary and musical escapades, Brian has whipped up a variety of website platforms, all while volunteering his time to help fledgling service providers find their footing. Think of him as the fairy godparent of the online world, waving his digital wand to help others shine—preferably while wearing a cowboy hat!